Company puts employees first

Lee Benson credits the growing workforce of his global engineering company with turning challenges into great results.

But none of those achievements match what the executive and employees of Able Engineering and Component Services did for a colleague who was severely disabled in a traffic accident.

About a year ago, Kevin Quint of Queen Creek was driving to work on a rainy morning when his pickup struck a raised median and flipped.

The impact crushed the truck's cabin, broke Quint's back and severed his spinal cord near its base.

Doctors told the 44-year-old shipping clerk and forklift operator that his legs were permanently disabled.

But Quint is back on the job, his workdays gradually increasing from mornings-only to full-time status as he regains his stamina.

His return, say fellow employees, is a testament to Quint's determination and the values of a company whose rapid expansion and increasing revenue are an outgrowth of its rewards to its workers.

It's the type of reputation that appealed to Mesa city officials when they persuaded the Phoenix-based company earlier this year to relocate to Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport.

The road back for Quint began as Benson, chief executive, president and majority shareholder of Able, went to his hospital bedside, offered to retrain him for a new job at Able and pay him his full-time salary during his prolonged rehabilitation.

"I visited Kevin . . . shortly after the accident, and he had such a positive attitude and wanted to go back to work ASAP," Benson said. "I couldn't believe it."

Benson said he had a need that Quint could fill in purchasing by learning new skills in both Able Electronics and Able Engineering's supply-chain department.

"Kevin ended up bringing real value in the supply-chain department and is currently doing a great job," he said.

Benson also purchased a second wheelchair and a customized stair lift for Quint's home to transport him upstairs and downstairs.